Dechert Significantly Strengthens International Arbitration Capability With New Paris Partner

Dechert LLP announced today that leading international arbitration expert, Claudia Annacker, has joined the firm’s International Arbitration practice as a partner* in Paris. 

Dr. Annacker has particular expertise in investment treaty arbitrations representing both claimants and respondents, and matters involving public international law issues, including state succession, diplomatic and consular immunities, inter-state disputes, disputes involving international organizations, and disputes before the European Court of Human Rights. She has represented sovereign states and investors in more than 30 investment treaty arbitrations and regularly advises investors on structuring their investments to benefit from, or improve, investment treaty protections. Admitted to the Paris bar, Dr. Annacker is an adjunct professor at the University of Vienna, where she teaches advanced research seminars in international responsibility and international dispute settlement, and has been a visiting professor at the Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense University. She is a member of the Court of Arbitration of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre and the board of the Vienna International Arbitral Centre. She was named Lawyer of the Year (2019) France by Benchmark Litigation.

Eduardo Silva Romero, Co-Chair of Dechert’s International Arbitration practice alongside Arif H. Ali, said, “Claudia is a powerful and effective advocate with an outstanding reputation in investment treaty arbitrations and public international law, and she will make a strong addition to our global team. Her arrival, in addition to the recent recruiting of Michelle Bradfield in London, reflects the continuing expansion of our practice, our strengthening of the firm’s public international law capabilities and our commitment to offer high-calibre arbitration services in the world’s principle arbitration centers. We are delighted to welcome Claudia to Dechert.”

Alain Decombe, Deputy Chair for International Operations and Managing Partner of Dechert’s Paris office, added, “Claudia’s recruitment confirms the commitment of the firm to continue to invest in France in high-end core practices and have a local office recognized for its expertise and agility in complex cases with strategic and high commercial impact.”

Dechert’s international arbitration group, led by Arif H. Ali and Eduardo Silva Romero, is independently recognised as one of the world’s leading arbitration practices, with a strong reputation for cutting-edge work in large commercial and investment disputes. The global law firm advises sovereign states (including sovereign wealth funds), state-owned enterprises, private investors, multinational corporations and high-net-worth individuals, in treaty and contract arbitrations around the world. Dechert represents clients across industry sectors including energy, mining, construction, telecommunications, financial services, life sciences, defense and hospitality. The group comprises over 50 lawyers including 12 partners operating from key arbitration centres including Paris, Washington, D.C., New York, London, Brussels, Beijing, Singapore and Hong Kong. In the last three years, the International Arbitration group has promoted Erica Franzetti (Washington, D.C.) and Erica Stein (Paris and Brussels) to partner, and has recruited partner Michelle Bradfield (London). 

In Paris, Dechert has more than 90 lawyers including 14 partners and seven national partners covering specialties including international arbitration, litigation and white collar crime, corporate and financial transactions with a strong private equity focus, IP, antitrust, public law, regulatory, tax, employment, and financial services and asset management matters. In addition to French law, many are qualified to practice U.S. or English law and are members of the bar in Paris, England and New York. The Paris team collaborates with colleagues throughout Europe, the United States, Asia and the Middle East. Over the last two years, Dechert’s Paris office has strengthened its global finance and real estate capability with the appointment of partner Privat Vigand alongside a team of four associates; reinforced its Financial Services practice with the recruitment of Cyril Fiat, previously with The World Bank in Washington, D.C.; and bolstered its cross-border investigations practice with the relocation of national partner Karen Coppens from London, in recognition of France’s clear intent to become a leading anti-corruption enforcer.

* Dr. Annacker joins as a Partner of Dechert LLP in the U.S. and as a consultant pending approval to be a Partner of Dechert (Paris) LLP by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

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Dechert is a leading global law firm with 26 offices around the world. We advise on matters and transactions of the greatest complexity, bringing energy, creativity and efficient management of legal issues to deliver commercial and practical advice for clients.